The Church of the Immaculate Conception in Saint-Omer, located in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France, was severely damaged by arson on the night of September 2. The fire, which began around 4 a.m., quickly consumed the side and central aisles before spreading to the roof and bell tower, resulting in the latter's collapse. Thanks to the efforts of 120 firefighters, the blaze was contained by 7:15 a.m., although the church suffered extensive damage. Fortunately, there were no injuries, but about 60 local residents were evacuated as a precaution.

The suspect, Joël Vigoureux, a 39-year-old with a history of similar offenses, was arrested a few hours after the fire. Vigoureux allegedly broke into the church by smashing a stained-glass window. He is known for multiple previous convictions for arson targeting places of worship.

Local authorities and the media have reported that while the church's structural integrity has been compromised, some of its treasures were saved. Father Sébastien Roussel, the parish priest, managed to rescue the Blessed Sacrament and about 20 other religious artifacts, including the reliquary bust of St. Corneille. Although the stained-glass windows, particularly those in the choir dedicated to Mary, sustained some damage, they were not heavily affected.

The neo-Gothic church, completed in 1859, had undergone a major renovation in 2018 at a cost of 5 million euros. In response to this tragedy, Xavier Bertrand, president of the Hauts de France region, pledged support for the church's reconstruction. A meeting held at the town hall with the architect responsible for the renovation and prefectural officials began planning for the church's rebuilding, though this process is expected to take several years.

In the wake of the fire, a time of prayer in front of the church is scheduled, followed by a Mass at the Basilica of Notre-Dame-des-Miracles in Saint-Omer, celebrated by Bishop Olivier Leborgne of Arras.

This incident has reignited concerns about the security of religious sites in France. The recent fire follows other high-profile attacks on Catholic structures, including the 2019 Notre Dame Cathedral fire and the July 11 blaze at Rouen Cathedral. According to the Observatoire du Patrimoine Religieux, 27 churches were destroyed in 2023 alone, with 12 more affected in the first half of 2024. These attacks represent a significant portion of the 1,000 anti-Christian acts reported annually in France.